We will have around the clock electricity this year in all structures, thanks to generators and batteries. But with electrical power comes some responsibility, and I'm looking for people to help out.
The main thing is to avoid using too much electricity at once. All electricity is shared from a single power strip. Try not to use not use over 300 watts per structure at any given time, since someone else may be using power in another structure without you knowing it, which could overload the system. Or at least check if they are. A blender uses 300 watts and is okay. Obviously no hair dryers, microwaves, etc. because those use over 1000 watts. If it uses household current, devices marked as using 2.5 amps use about 300 watts. To be safe we shouldn't use more than 1000 watts at any given time for the entire camp, although the system could probably handle a 1500 watt peak for a while.
There are two 4 minute tasks per day. We will use batteries in the day and the generator at night. Instructions will be slightly updated, and provided in a laminated sheet. Its not hard to do the job, but easier if someone walks you through it first.
HIDE THE BATTERY BOX IN AN RV AND LOCK IT UP!!
Sat, Sundown: shane
Sundown at around 7:30 PM (~4 minutes)
Move Camp Electricity to the RV Generator
1) Turn on the RV generator by going inside and locating the start button to the right of the sink in the back. Hold down the start button until the generator starts.
2) Unplug the powerstrip from the Cobra inverter on top of battery box
3) Move the entire powerstrip to the RV generator outlet... only use the extension cord that comes out of the RV for this, instead of plugging directly into the wall outlets.
4) Now is the time to turn on the decorative lights. There should be some sort of switch for this, perhaps marked "DECORATIVE LIGHTS"
Charge "Battery Box 1000"
5) IMPORTANT!! Turn OFF the Cobra inverter on top of the box first by holding down the power button for about 3 seconds or until you hear the beep
6) Open the battery box by setting the inverter to the side of box, leaning it against the side of the box. Then open the lid.
7) Put battery charger clamps on marked posts, putting BLACK on BLACK/NEGATIVE batter terminal first then RED on the specially marked brass POSITIVE TERMINAL near the fuse (see Fig. 2) Figure 2: Where to connect the charger
8) Plug charger into RV generator electricity (powerstrip), and press the orange ‘Charge’ button. The charger will stop charging when it is done. Figure 3: The "Charge" button
Just Before Midnight (~4 minutes)
If we are using less electricity, shut this down at 10 or 11 PM.
Get Batteries Ready to Power the Camp
1) Unplug the big orange Black & Decker battery charger from the RV generator extension cord. Keep the charger unplugged.
2) Remove the BLACK, then RED battery charger clamps and put them back on the charger's own clamp holders to keep them clean.
3) Put the lid on the battery box while letting the cords stick out, then put the Cobra inverter on top. Tuck the cords into the cut out area of the lid.
4) Press the power button on the inverter to turn it ON. You will see red digits showing the voltage, which should be over 12.7 if charged and can be as high as 13.4 V
Switch Camp Electricity to Batteries
5) Switch OFF the decorative lights, which will be marked as DECORATIVE LIGHTS
6) Turn on dim nightlights, which should be marked as NIGHTLIGHTS
7) Remove the power strip from generator extension cord, and then plug the whole thing into the Cobra inverter on top of the batteries
8) Go into the RV and turn off generator. It is the switch to the right of the sink, in the back.
The main thing is to avoid using too much electricity at once. All electricity is shared from a single power strip. Try not to use not use over 300 watts per structure at any given time, since someone else may be using power in another structure without you knowing it, which could overload the system. Or at least check if they are. A blender uses 300 watts and is okay. Obviously no hair dryers, microwaves, etc. because those use over 1000 watts. If it uses household current, devices marked as using 2.5 amps use about 300 watts. To be safe we shouldn't use more than 1000 watts at any given time for the entire camp, although the system could probably handle a 1500 watt peak for a while.
There are two 4 minute tasks per day. We will use batteries in the day and the generator at night. Instructions will be slightly updated, and provided in a laminated sheet. Its not hard to do the job, but easier if someone walks you through it first.
The Schedule
RV 1
Sun, Sundown: rob
Sun, 12 AM: rob
Mon, Sundown: Jenny
Mon, 12 AM: Jon
Tue, Sundown: Jon
Tue, 12 AM: Ben N.
Switch to RV 2
Wed, Sundown: Caitlin
Wed, 12 AM: Caitlin
Thu, Sundown: Jon
Thu, 12 AM: Ben N.
Fri, Sundown: howard c
Fri, 12 AM: jack
HIDE THE BATTERY BOX IN AN RV AND LOCK IT UP!!
Sat, Sundown: shane
Sundown at around 7:30 PM (~4 minutes)
Move Camp Electricity to the RV Generator
1) Turn on the RV generator by going inside and locating the start button to the right of the sink in the back. Hold down the start button until the generator starts.
2) Unplug the powerstrip from the Cobra inverter on top of battery box
3) Move the entire powerstrip to the RV generator outlet... only use the extension cord that comes out of the RV for this, instead of plugging directly into the wall outlets.
4) Now is the time to turn on the decorative lights. There should be some sort of switch for this, perhaps marked "DECORATIVE LIGHTS"
Charge "Battery Box 1000"
5) IMPORTANT!! Turn OFF the Cobra inverter on top of the box first by holding down the power button for about 3 seconds or until you hear the beep
6) Open the battery box by setting the inverter to the side of box, leaning it against the side of the box. Then open the lid.
7) Put battery charger clamps on marked posts, putting BLACK on BLACK/NEGATIVE batter terminal first then RED on the specially marked brass POSITIVE TERMINAL near the fuse (see Fig. 2)
Figure 2: Where to connect the charger
8) Plug charger into RV generator electricity (powerstrip), and press the orange ‘Charge’ button. The charger will stop charging when it is done.
Figure 3: The "Charge" button
Just Before Midnight (~4 minutes)
If we are using less electricity, shut this down at 10 or 11 PM.Get Batteries Ready to Power the Camp
1) Unplug the big orange Black & Decker battery charger from the RV generator extension cord. Keep the charger unplugged.
2) Remove the BLACK, then RED battery charger clamps and put them back on the charger's own clamp holders to keep them clean.
3) Put the lid on the battery box while letting the cords stick out, then put the Cobra inverter on top. Tuck the cords into the cut out area of the lid.
4) Press the power button on the inverter to turn it ON. You will see red digits showing the voltage, which should be over 12.7 if charged and can be as high as 13.4 V
Switch Camp Electricity to Batteries
5) Switch OFF the decorative lights, which will be marked as DECORATIVE LIGHTS
6) Turn on dim nightlights, which should be marked as NIGHTLIGHTS
7) Remove the power strip from generator extension cord, and then plug the whole thing into the Cobra inverter on top of the batteries
8) Go into the RV and turn off generator. It is the switch to the right of the sink, in the back.